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Custer County, SD

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Custer County, SD is $1,173 per month, ranking #419 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $81,958, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 17.2% of income on housing. The area has a population of 8.7K, with 14.4% of households renting.

17.2%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,173
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$81,958
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$1,117
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
8.7K
Population
Census ACS
14.4%
Renters
of occupied housing
$327,200
Median Home Value
2.9%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
21.3%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
6.6%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$809
Studio
$894
1 Bedroom
$1,173
2 Bedroom
$1,631
3 Bedroom
$1,968
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Custer County, SD, a household earning the area median income of $81,958 would spend 17.2% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$46,920
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$23
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$1,117
$56 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+26.0% since 2021
$9312021$1,1732026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in South Dakota is $11.20/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 80.6 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Custer County is 6.6%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$11.20/hr
Hours/Week Needed
80.6 hrs
Poverty Rate
6.6%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Custer County is $327,200. At a median income of $81,958, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 4.0x. 21.3% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing. The local unemployment rate is 2.9%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$2,290 est. mortgage
vs $1,173 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
21.3%
of housing units
Unemployment
2.9%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in South Dakota

Rapid City
$1,336/mo
2BR FMR · 22.3% burden
Meade County
$1,273/mo
2BR FMR · 20.6% burden
Sioux Falls
$1,156/mo
2BR FMR · 17% burden
Sioux City
$1,154/mo
2BR FMR · 19.2% burden

Compare Custer County

vs Rapid City, SDvs Meade County, SDvs Sioux Falls, SD

Areas With Similar Rent to Custer County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Custer County, SD is $1,173 per month. A studio is $809/mo, a 1-bedroom is $894/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,631/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $1,117/mo.

Custer County has a rent burden of 17.2%, meaning a household earning the median income of $81,958 would spend 17.2% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $46,920.

Custer County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,173/mo is $77 below the national median of $1,250/mo. Custer County ranks #419 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Custer County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $46,920, or a full-time hourly wage of $23/hour. The area median income is $81,958.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.